Wakefield defeat leaders St Helens

Wakefield Trinity 24-20 St Helens

Betfred Super League leaders St Helens suffered only a second defeat of the season as Wakefield Trinity halted their own five-match losing run in a nail-biting contest at the Mobile Rocket Stadium.

England centre Mark Percival scored two tries, taking his tally for the season to 12, as Saints fought back from 22-6 down to close to within two points but they could not maintain their composure in a dramatic finish as Wakefield clung on for a 24-20 victory, their first at home to St Helens for six years.

Both sides finished the game with 12 men after Percival and Wakefield hooker Tyler Randell were sin-binned but, after losing their last three matches by a combined total of eight points, Trinity coach Chris Chester will be thrilled by the way they held their nerve this time.

.... Aaaaaand breathe😯. Trinity hang on to claim a massive two points! pic.twitter.com/Uh4xJNoYDK

— Wakefield Trinity (@WTrinityRL) April 15, 2018

Percival put Saints ahead inside the second minute but Wakefield hit back with four tries in 17 minutes as Ben Jones-Bishop, Reece Lyne, Justin Horo and Bill Tupou all crossed to put the hosts 22-6 up.

Tommy Makinson and Percival dotted down before half-time, with Luke Douglas crossing the whitewash to make the score 22-20 but Liam Finn's fourth goal with seven minutes remaining proved enough for Trinity.

Outstanding from @Reece__21. A well deserved MOTM performance👏 pic.twitter.com/aSAflH0FtX

— Wakefield Trinity (@WTrinityRL) April 15, 2018

Wakefield coach Chester said: “I aged about 10 years in the last five minutes but I couldn’t be more proud of my players.

“We’ve been there or thereabouts for the last five games and it’s nice to win a tight one today. I feel we deserve it and it will do the players a world of good.

“I’m really pleased, it means I can sleep a bit better tonight."

Chris Chester: “I’ve aged ten years after that final five minutes.”

— Wakefield Trinity (@WTrinityRL) April 15, 2018

Saints coach Justin Holbrook said: “I was disappointed with our effort today. It was a close game but we couldn’t come away with the win.

“Full credit to Wakefield, I thought they just worked harder than us.

“Obviously we kept going to the end but when you look back (at) that 18-minute period, it cost us. It was unlike us to let some soft tries in.”